The Phillies already have a good deal of infielders in camp but are in search of more depth, multiple major league sources tell Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. The club has health concerns about both first baseman Ryan Howard second baseman Chase Utley as they have yet to play in a game this spring.
Sources say that left field could also be a position the Phillies are looking to bolster. With Howard sidelined, John Mayberry Jr. might have to pitch in at first base. Help at third base might also be in order as Placido Polanco is coming off surgery to repair a double groin tear.
Oh boy, here come the comments…
Im not sure what you mean. But i liked it anyway since i think its against philly fans.
Not likely, champ. “dylan5030” IS a Philly fan! :p
I actually am I huge Phillies fan, but this will just have people going back to “The Phillies Window is closing fast” and “They are all old and they aren’t going to be good this year” again. It’s been said since 2009 and it’s getting old (no pun intended, actually, let me pretend that I meant that pun to happen).
Well, then ill take my like back. Its not personal.
No Takesies Backsies.
I will go on record (with many other fans) and say that Valdez trade was the dumbest, most pointless trade they have done in awhile. He was very valuable to this club and his versatility will be missed. (Martinez has like 3 or 4 errors already)
Yes, but the Reds thank you for trading Valdez for someone who any team could have claimed, Jeremy Horst
I didn’t quite understand why the Phillies traded him at the time, either. Horst is probably projected to be a slightly above average reliever at best, while Valdez can play so many positions and provide an acceptable bat.
What’s mystifying to me is the love for Valdez. He was only ‘very valuable to this club’ in as much as we didn’t have another solid utility infielder.
He played better than Bruntlett, but that doesn’t mean he was anything more than an acceptable fill-in who can pitch in games when you run out of pitchers.
We’ll trade you (insert our worst scrub here) for the top 3 prospects in your farm system … or something like that lol
Those comments too. Again, I’m a Phillies fan, but the comments that say “Joe Blanton, Polanco, and a prospect for David Wright” are really getting old as well.
The fact is, the Phils don’t have the talent (or the money) to make big acquisitions this year. I love that we ended up with Pence, Lee, and Halladay and it was worth the prospects (although the Pence deal including Santana still seems unnecessary to me), but it definitely killed the farm and flexibility.
While I *kind of* understand where you’re coming from, no one is forcing you to read any of these comment threads. If they frustrate you so much, why even bother reading them?
Actually, it’s the radio station I listen to mostly. I like to listen to the analysis, but then you get these fans that don’t really know baseball and think they can just have whoever because they started following the team when they were good (which is fine) but forget that a deal must benefit both sides in order for it to work. Just a pet peeve of mine, that is all. It’s with all fans.
I don’t understand how anybody gets it in their head that “Blanton and Polanco + prospect” for David Wright is:
A) a smart thing to suggest.
B) ever going to happen.
I remember Missenelli actually suggested the possibility to Jayson Stark like it was an actual rumor.
You can have Brandon Inge. Please?
How about Alberto Callaspo or Maicer Izturis from the Angels? Both can play multiple positions, switch hit, and might be squeezed out of a job in Anaheim.
Also, Jeff Baker is available.
Jose Lopez? Has played SS, 2B, and 3B in the past and played 1B today.
Jose Lopez would be a “solid” addition to the Phillies..and could be acquired for not very much.. The Indians would be looking at a mid/low level prospect with some upside
(a Sickels C – C+ prospect) .. like someone as well thought of as Jonathan Pettibone or an outfielder/prospect with “issues” & upside like like Aarong Altherr, Jiwan James or Tony Hewitt..
You are scraping the grime from the bottom of the player barrel when go off looking at Lopez as a utility infielder.. Not only can he no longer hit, but he is a malcontent to boot..
Why not try for Lugo, whi is both a malcontent, can’t field, nor hit, but at least he won’t cost the team anything to prove those points if Philly must have someone with all those abysmal qualities.
Lopez has to beat out Jason Donald or Jack Hannahan to make the Indians’ roster, or he’ll be available on waivers. The Indians won’t get a meaningful prospect (even of the C/C+ level) for him.
Figured this would happen after we dished out Wilson to the Reds
Agree 100%. Martinez is a decent player, but is a AAAA player, not a MLB caliber player like Wilson.
If you look up “replacement player,” you’ll see a picture of Wilson Valdez. They’ll be able to pick up someone like him (if not Valdez himself, since he’s fighting for a roster spot in Cincinnati) when teams make their final spring cuts. They need someone significantly better.
Well I guess Utley is more hurt than the Phillies are letting on. Maybe this time they will let us know sometime soon. Who am I kidding, they won’t ever tell us the truth when it comes to injuries that they can cover up.
I am a Phillies fan and count me in as one of those beliving the Phillies “window is closing fast.” Amaro is very right in being concerned about the health of the infield, and very wrong about being concerned about it this close to the start of the season.
I think literally every Phillie in the lineup not named Pence is either a question mark or a HUGE question mark as to whether they’ll perform all that much above replacement level this season (alright maybe not Victorino).
My baseless 2012 projections:
Pence – .300, 25hr, 90rbi
Victorino – .280, 20hr, 70rbi
Mayberry – .275, 15hr, 65rbi
Utley – .260, 15hr, 60rbi
Howard – .250, 20hr, 85rbi
Rollins – .265, 10hr, 55rbi
Ruiz – .275, 10hr, 60rbi
Polanco – .270, 5hr, 40rbi
Utley, Jimmy, Howard, and Polly are all on track to have BAD seasons. I hope having the best rotation in baseball can carry us much longer. I think this is the last season the Phils are favorites to win the East.
This might be a bit of a down year with the injuries stacking up a bit. If Utley and Howard come back to anywhere close to their career norms then the Phillies will still be the favorites.
Next year will be interesting. I don’t know if the Phillies plan on increasing payroll even more, but if they don’t then they could lose Victorino or Hamels. They also would need to replace Polly at 3rd. I don’t know if they can do that all of that effectively without going over the luxury tax threshold. That doesn’t even take into account regression due to the age of their best players.
it all depends upon their infield, the nl east could be very tough this year. I really like the marlins team with their additions, and if hanley and josh can stay healthy they could be a very good team. The nats are upcoming too (although i dont think this is their year Yet), and the braves always seem to be in contention.
If utley and howard can stay healthy then they could be good, but if neither is good then their lineup is a bust without any middle of the order hitters.
Not a very good way to spend their $165M, their lineup is very old looking.
The Angels have multiple players that could be dealt addressing these needs. What do the Phils have to offer in return?
Joe Blanton would be a big upgrade on the Angels’ #5 starter options (Jerome Williams, Trevor Bell, and a bunch of rookies). A Callaspo for Blanton and cash swap might work for both teams. Heck, the Angels want to unload Bobby Abreu – maybe we can make it Callaspo/Abreu for Blanton/Wigginton. The salaries match up almost perfectly, and the Phils could use Abreu in a LF platoon.
I say they should trade for Jeff Baker from the cubs… I love jeff, but he really sounds like the very back up they are looking for, and im sure the cubs would be happy with a pitching prospect…..
Baker would fill the 2B/3B need. The only downside is that he’s a similar player to Ty Wigginton (right-handed hitter, 1B/2B/3B), though his defense isn’t nearly as awful. I doubt it would take much of a prospect to pry Baker loose from the Cubs.
Phils really don’t need any more help at this point. If Utley or Polanco can’t go, Galvis is better longer-term solution than Mini-Mart with Wigginton available in a pinch. In LF they have Mayberry, Nix, Wiggy and Brown if he can learn to play a passable LF soon.
I don’t see why they don’t just start Galvis at 2nd base if they can’t get Chase on the field.
I think Luis Castillo would be available 🙂
It might not be a bad idea for them to take a look at Brandon Allen. Many consider him the front-runner for the A’s Opening Day 1B gig right now. But since they also have Barton, Carter and Kila, I’m sure they’d still consider dealing him for a decent prospect. Maybe a reliever like Justin De Fratus, Lisalberto Bonilla or Perci Garner.
He wouldn’t be a bad replacement for Howard while he’s out. And when he does make his return, Allen could potentially be used as a left-handed platoon partner for Mayberry in left field.
I’d definitely be willing to take that chance if I were Philly. Worst-case scenario, they lose a mid-level prospect for a decent 1B/LF. But best-case scenario, Allen could have something of a breakout season (he does have upside) and they could either keep him around as a really solid role player, or trade him for a better prospect than the one they gave for him.
Having Utley and Howard all banged up isn’t good for the Phils. This is a fact. Polanco does not have much longer left as an everyday player either. I deally they would move Utley to 1B but Howard will be there till his contract is up. The core of the Philly lineup is banged up and old. They can still win the division cuz the division isn’t that strong but the Marlins and Nationals are making their push now with younger players.
“They can still win the division cuz the division isn’t that strong but the Marlins and Nationals are making their push now with younger players.”
I beg to differ, it’s arguably the second strongest division in the MLB behind the AL East and just in front of AL West (because after all, next year it will have the Astros, M’s, and A’s) and easily the best and toughest division in NL.
agreed, look at the marlins roster, and look at the lineup, they are better at almost every position compared to the phillies, and they are way younger which usually means healthier.
Rotation of Anibal, johnson, buerhle, nolasco, Zambrano; could be a pretty good rotation. I expect Z to bounce back now that he is out of chicago, while not as good as the phillies rotation i think that they should compete because of their lineup.
The division isn’t that strong? The only team that isn’t expected to contend this year is the Mets…..
Baltimore has a few infielders that could match up. Antonelli and Andino could fill the hole and wouldn’t cost too much.
One of those two will be starting at 2B for Baltimore, and the other’s their primary utility infielder. Unless Brian Roberts suddenly gets healthy, I don’t see either guy getting moved. Antonelli would be a nice pickup for the Phils though.
Josh Barfield did a nice job at second base for the Ironpigs last year. I believe he’s still a free agent. He would be a nice insurance policy.
Phillies fan here.
Can Papelbon play 3B?? Way to spread that cheddar around Rube. Holla!!!!
Howie Kendrick looks like a Philly to me. Give the Angels outfield prospects or Blanton for him
Howie Kendrick’s a nice fit for the role this year, but he has a 4-year, backloaded contract ($4.5M in 2012, then $8.75M, $9.35M, and $9.5M in 2013-15). He also can’t play 3B, which means you can’t slot him in as Polanco’s replacement next year.
Alberto Callaspo ($3.15M salary this year, arbitration-eligible after season) is a much better fit for the Phils, as he can play 2B, 3B, and SS in a pinch. Maybe with Jerome Williams hurt and a weak #5 starter option anyway, the Angels would do a deal involving Callaspo and Blanton. The Phils would have to eat salary or take on part of another bad contract (Abreu?) in return.
How about five years of lefthanded power hitter Domonic Brown to Seatte for six years of Kyle Seager, a blocked infielder who last season posted a WAR of 0.5 in 53 games (201 PA) to the disappointing WAR of 0.0 posted in 56 games (210 PA) by Brown (who is two months older than Seager)?
Seager posted a .328/.401/.474/.875 line in 1,245 minor league plate appearances while Brown posted a .294/.375/.459/.834 line in 2,013 plate appearances.
The Phillies get immediate infield help with long-term potential while the Mariners get a power hitter whose lefthanded bat might play well at Safeco Field.
Seager is a useful player, but he has nowhere near the offensive potential of Brown. The Phils would have to be desperate or nuts to agree to that. Even if the Mariners were able to put together a package with Seager for Brown, they’d be acquiring a second big hitter with no position after trading for Jesus Montero. Brown’s showing no signs of progress in the outfield and is likely to end up as a DH somewhere.
Look again at the minor league statistics.
Domonic Brown is a 2006 20th-round draft pick (out of high school) whose stock has risen and fallen.
Kyle Seager is a 2009 third-round draft pick (out of college) whose stock has merely risen.
I agree that defensive metrics suggest that Brown’s future is as a designated hitter (and may help explain Brown’s omission from the depth chart at the Phillies website). However, the Mariners hope to have Jesus Montero as their primary catcher after Miguel Olivo’s contract expires at the end of this season.
With the aging Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco at second, short and third, the Phillies could use a promising 24-year-old infielder who comes with six years of team control.
He piled up most of those minor-league stats in hitters’ paradises (High Desert is notorious for inflating numbers, as are the California League and PCL in general). I’m not knocking Seager – he’s likely to have a solid career – but I haven’t heard anyone say he has star potential. Baseball Prospectus’s Kevin Goldstein had him just missing their “Top 10 talents under 25” list. #10, for comparison’s sake, was Mike Carp, who’s a serviceable big-league hitter but is never going to be confused for a top prospect.
If you were the Philadelphia GM today, would you trade Domonic Brown (homerless with a .645 OPS at Triple A) for Seattle’s Kyle Seager, who is on pace for a 5 WAR season?
He piled up most of those minor-league stats in hitters’ paradises (High Desert is notorious for inflating numbers, as are the California League and PCL in general). I’m not knocking Seager – he’s likely to have a solid career – but I haven’t heard anyone say he has star potential. Baseball Prospectus’s Kevin Goldstein had him just missing their “Top 10 talents under 25” list. #10, for comparison’s sake, was Mike Carp, who’s a serviceable big-league hitter but is never going to be confused for a top prospect.
Geoff Blum anyone?